The Congress had launched an attack on the Narendra Modi Government way before it started propagating the achievements of its first year in power. But it seems that the Congress has not given any direction to its leaders regarding the line and length of the criticism. That is the reason why there is no unanimity in the statements of leaders who are talking to the media in different cities of the country. This has also become clear in the monitoring of the media department of the Congress.
The greatest confusion is over whether or not the Modi Government is taking forward the policies of the UPA Government. Some Congress leaders claim that the Modi Government has only changed the names of policies of the previous Government. In a press conference at Congress headquarters, P Chidambaram said he is happy that this Government is taking forward many of the schemes of the last Government after changing their names. Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh went a step ahead and said this is UPA-3 Government.
So, if this is UPA-3 Government, why are the Congress leaders criticising itIJ Some leaders are saying that this Government is doing nothing but clever advertising. But only one of these scenarios can be true: Either the Government is not doing anything or is taking the works of the UPA forward. So, now it is being said that instructions will be issued to Congress leaders to maintain unanimity, at least in public statements.
CONGRESS AND SOCIAl MEDIA
leaders of Congress had been keeping distance from social media as long as the party was in power. Only some leaders like Manish Tewari, Shakeel Ahmad and Ajay Maken were active on Twitter and other platforms of social media. At that time, big leaders of the party made mockery of Modi, who was very active on social media. When Modi came to power, he told his ministers to also be active on social media, which was again ridiculed by the Congress. But after one year in Opposition, Congress leaders have understood the importance of being ‘social’ and have now become very active on Twitter.
The latest to join the bandwagon is Chidambaram. Within two days, he has posted more than two dozen tweets! He opened his Twitter account last Sunday and within a few days, his followers increased to 20,000. Rahul also recently joined Twitter, and all information about his tours, rallies and other programmes is available there. Ahmed Patel had joined Twitter even before these two, but hadn’t been active until now. But it is Digvijaya Singh who has left behind almost all leaders of the party. There even seems to be a competition among Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Ajay Maken and Manish Tewari to tweet first on any issue.
WHY JDU BACKED GST
The JDU has decided to support Goods and Services Tax (GST) and has also made an official announcement regarding this. At present, the Bill is being discussed by the select committee and will not be presented in the first week of the Monsoon Session. So, right now there was no need to either support or oppose it. No other party has cleared its stand as of now. But JDU has said that Bihar is not a State of construction activities and GST will not harm it, so the party will support it. That is why there are speculations that the support of JDU has political implications.
This development has given rise to rumours that JDU might return to NDA. Some are saying that if the merger of Janata family doesn’t materialise, then JDU and BJP will again forge an alliance. However, the BJP is outrightly rejecting this possibility. BJP veterans say there is no chance of an alliance in any case. Amit Shah and Sushil Modi have categorically denied this speculation. BJP leaders and workers of Bihar are also against this. Nitish Kumar also knows that there is no possibility of an alliance with the BJP. Despite that, he has never tried to deny the speculations. In fact, he wants to create pressure on lalu Prasad Yadav. Not only this, he also wants to give a message to the Congress. JDU leaders want to convey that they have other options as well. But it seems there is no effect of pressure politics on RJD and Congress.
RAHUl IN ACTION MODE
The second year of Narendra Modi Government will be a year of acceptance as there will be fierce attack from the Opposition. Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi will continue to create pressure on the Government inside and outside Parliament. Sources in the Congress say Rahul’s plan for next year is ready. This year he will take charge of the Congress. After that, he will form his own team — one for inside Parliament and another for outside. His youth brigade of Gaurav Gogoi, Sushmita Dev, Rajiv Satav, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Deepender Singh Hooda and Jyotiraditya Scindia will continue to assist him inside Parliament.
Rahul wants to make a separate team of leaders who will either sit in the AICC office or work with the people. Rahul will keep young leaders of States with him. He will go for padyatras in every part of the country and meet people. He can start it from Modi’s constituency, Varanasi. Rahul has also kept eyes on Bihar. Congress leaders are trying for the merger of Janata family to stop the BJP. Apart from Bihar, Rahul will visit States where elections are scheduled in the next year. Congress sources say Rahul also sees the possibility of alliance with new parties.
NATIONAl POlITICS DREAMS
Arvind Kejriwal’s ambitions for all-India politics are flying high again. He will soon start a campaign against the BJP and Modi Government for full statehood of Delhi. He recently got a boost from the Delhi High Court and will fight against the Central Government, claiming to be the number one crusader of corruption. After the decision of HC, he has decided to target the Centre on the corruption issue. Sources in AAP say the party is going to strengthen its base in at least seven States.
After taking charge as the Chief Minister, Kejriwal has not gone out of Delhi for political purpose even once. Probably, the party is mulling which State he should start with — Haryana, Punjab or MaharashtraIJ AAP has a strong base in these States. But after the controversy involving Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, many leaders resigned from the party, thereby weakening the organisation.
Most of the work in Delhi is being looked after by Manish Sisodia so that Kejriwal can concentrate on other States. Apart from these three States, AAP will focus on Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. Probably, Kejriwal will forget the defeat of Varanasi and lok Sabha, and move on to other States. This is necessary for him because if he leaves any space, the team of Yogendra and Prashant will occupy that.
NO NEW PARTNERS for BJPIJ
The BJP is hesitating in adding new partners to NDA. Sources say the BJP wants to expand, so it is not going to add partners in even those States where it doesn’t have a strong base. For example, the BJP had not performed well in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Orissa, but in these States the party has seen success in the membership drive. So, BJP leaders want to go alone in these States instead of going into partnership with established leaders.
The BJP leadership in Tamil Nadu has rejected the idea of an alliance with the two big parties — DMK and AIADMK. Both parties were earlier part of the BJP-led alliance. Similarly, the BJP doesn’t want to go with another old alliance partner, Mamata Banerjee. Despite the sympathy towards Mamata, the BJP will fight alone in Bengal.
Chief Minister of Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao, is also trying to join NDA, but it has not become possible yet. In other States, the BJP wants to go with only those parties that will follow its leadership. Clearly, the BJP doesn’t want to become the ‘B’ team.
